Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-16

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The chart below shows the percentage of households in owned and rented accommodation in England and Wales between 1918 and 2011.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The double bar chart illustrates the percentage of households owning and renting accommodation in tow different countries England and Wasles from 1918 to 2011.

Overall, it can be seen that percentage of households purchasing houses showed a upward trend, whereas the proportion residents of renting homes displayed the opposite trend.

To begin,over 20 % people was interetsed to buy a house in 1918, which was accounted for over 30%, in 1939. However, it was remained same in 1953. Conversely, it experenced a gradual rise and reached about 70% between 1961 and 2001 before decreasing to approximately 65% in the next decade.

In terms of renting accommodation, the percentage was over 75% in 1918. Meanwhile, it was accounted for just below 70% in 1939 and 1953. Subsequently, it declined from below 60% to over 30% from 1961 to 2001. Finally, it surged sightly and reached near 35% with a span of 10 years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the chart’s main contrast and give a clear overview: ownership generally rises while renting declines. You also report the key turning point in 1971, when both figures are 50%, and note the slight reversal by 2011. Most figures are broadly consistent with the chart, including the early ownership levels and the later fall. However, some descriptions are imprecise: ownership reaches about 69% in 2001, not “about 70% between 1961 and 2001,” since it rises across that period; renting falls from 59% in 1961 to 31% in 2001. The overview could also state more explicitly that the two trends meet in 1971. More precise comparisons and clearer reporting of the stages would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement, with an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for ownership and renting. Time markers such as “To begin,” “Subsequently,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the sequence. However, some linking is mechanical or unclear. “Conversely” does not clearly signal the next stage in the ownership trend, while “Meanwhile” is not the most logical link when introducing the renting figures. The sentence beginning “To begin” also combines the 1918 and 1939 figures in a confusing way. Improve progression by grouping the two series around shared periods—for example, describe their convergence in 1971 and their later divergence—and use references that make the relationship between figures explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of chart-related vocabulary, including “percentage,” “proportion,” “declined,” “gradual rise,” and “surged.” These choices show an effort to avoid repetition and communicate the overall movements. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “people was interested to buy a house,” “percentage of households purchasing houses,” and “with a span of 10 years.” There are also spelling errors, including “Wasles,” “interetsed,” “experenced,” and “sightly,” which reduce precision. Aim for standard data-reporting phrases such as “the proportion of households that owned their homes” and “over the following decade.” More accurate collocations and careful proofreading would make the vocabulary more effective.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a contrast clause with “whereas” and time clauses such as “before decreasing.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “percentage … showed a upward trend” has an article error, and “over 20% people was” has problems with the noun phrase and subject–verb agreement. The construction “it was remained same” is also faulty, while “the proportion residents of renting homes” lacks a clear grammatical structure. Review articles, agreement, and verb forms, and build sentences around a clear subject and verb. Greater control of these patterns would make your comparisons easier to understand.

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